The Brooklyn Brew Shop 1 Gallon Beer Making Kit is the perfect introduction to brewing for the quality-conscious quaffer. Instead of the typical can of malt extract, you’ll learn about the true steps of making a grain mash, sparging, hopping, yeasting, fermenting, bottling, and then drinking a delicious homebrew. I made a tasty IPA, though they offer many other styles. One of the most inspired things about this kit is its size — small enough to do on a stovetop, more manageable than the typical 5-gallon size. Includes malted barley blend, hops, yeast, glass fermenter, airlock, tubing, thermometer, tubing clamp, sanitizer, stopper, and blowoff attachment.

John Edgar Park likes to make things and tell people about it. He works in CG animation at DisneyToon Studios and writes for Make, Boing Boing, and other places online and in print. You can find him at jpixl.net and twitter @johnedgarpark — if you like that sort of thing.